THE FUTURE OF BRISLINGTON’S BUSES
This week I had meetings with both Doug Claringbold, the MD of First Bus, and WECA to discuss the future of bus services in Brislington. Here’s what is going on:
36
Mr Claringbold confirmed that the reason for cutting the route of the 36 last October was financial, and not the result of the driver shortage. The previous 36 running 3 buses on the extended route along Wick Road was not profitable, requiring subsidy to keep it running. This is not a sustainable situation for a private company, so the new route, which is now profitable, will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
1/X39/349
There are some improvements taking place on First Bus services. Both the X39 and 349 are being increased in frequency, so that journeys along the A4 into the city should virtually be “turn up and go” without having to know the timetable.
Services on the No 1 route which were cancelled in October will be re-instated from April.
513/4
These subsidised services will no longer run from April. These services have, up until now, been subsidised entirely by the council, but escalating costs and budget cuts have meant that they are no longer sustainable in their current form.
These changes would ordinarily make life very difficult for some people who use these different buses to get across Brislington from the village to St Annes and vice-versa. However, the good news is that there will be an alternative from April – see below:
Demand Responsive Transport – WESTLINK
When Katja and I met Dan Norris last year in St Anne’s House, we impressed upon him the dire state of public transport in our area. He talked then about Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), and we asked him to consider making Brislington a pilot area for this new initiative. I’m glad to say he listened to us and has done just that. From April, a new service will operate throughout Brislington East, and will provide a means of making many of those journeys that people have struggled with up until now. This is a service funded by money from the government as part of WECA’s Bus Improvement Plan and the funding is guaranteed for two years.
So what is WESTlink?
• It is a public bus service with no fixed route; no fixed timetable
• It travels anywhere within the operating zone (see map)
• It is not door-to-door but uses bus stops and other designated points ; however, if you have a disability it can collect you from your house.
• It can replace car travel and provide a service where ordinary buses are not available
• WESTlink only runs when booked
How?
• It is booked via an App or over the phone
• It can be booked ‘On demand’ or up to up to 24 hours in advance
• Maximum wait expected for an ‘on demand’ trip is 60 mins
• Smart technology will match your journey with other customers
When?
WESTlink will launch operations on 3rd April, Monday-Saturday 0700-1900, no Sunday service
How much will it cost?
• Single fare for any journey length within an operating zone will be £2 adults, £1 child
• All concessionary and older person’s bus passes will be accepted
• Customers, whether booking by app, web or phone, can pay via a credit or debit card attached to their account or elect to pay the driver with cash
• By the summer WECA are hoping to add to the ticket offering with a day fare and through ticketing with other operators (standard bus/rail services)
There will be a public meeting in Brislington in the near future where WECA will set out more information about the service and answer questions, as well as “webinars” which can be attended online.
FUTURE SERVICES
At my meeting with Mr Claringbold, I stressed to him the isolated nature of the St Anne’s area in particular, and he was very keen to start a conversation about how commercial services might be able to better serve the area. We discussed the possibility of a new service along the Feeder Road to the new back entrance to Temple Meads for instance. Mr Claringbold agreed that it would be good to use Brislington as a “pilot area” to start looking at the existing network and how it might better serve people across the city. With this in mind, he agreed to set up a meeting in St Anne’s to meet with us as local councillors, and local residents who are interested, to see if there is a way we can improve things further for the many people who do not currently have a reliable bus service into town and elsewhere. I think this is a positive first move towards getting a better service.
WECA have also promised that a wider review of the transport network, including buses will shortly commence. This will be region wide and will give people a chance to give WECA their views on the long term plan for improving buses.
When I was elected in 2020 I promised to do all I could to help improve public transport in Brislington. I will continue to work hard to try to get the services that people deserve and that will help our area become less car-dependent.
Thanks
Tim Rippington
Labour Councillor, Brislington East
Cllr.tim.rippington@bristol.gov.uk
Brislington Community News 